Shuttle-actuating mechanism for sewing-machines.



A. R. SCHOENKY.

SHUTTLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. I912.

Patented May16, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- A. R. SCHOENKY.

SHUTTLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1912.

1 183,040. Patented May 16, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. R. SCHOENKY.

SHUTTLE ACTUATlNG MECHANISM FORYSEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. 1912.

1, 183,040. Patented May 16, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- M5665, hz/eralon a J] M 6.0% @W mu COLUMBIA PMNOGRAPM 60., WASHINGTON. D. c.

Cur

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST R. SCHOENKY, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE REECE SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application filed November 30, 1912. Serial No. 734,239.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUGUs'r R. SCH ENKY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Hiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shuttle-Actuating Mechanism for Sewing-Ma chines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to shuttle actuating mechanism for sewing machines, and more particularly for sewing machines of types employing circularly moving shuttles, although some of the features of improvement hereof would be applicable on other types of machines.

In the disclosure of the present application I have for convenience selected for the purposes of illustration of the principles of this invention, the class of machine known as a sole sewing machine used in the manufacture of shoes by the welt system, for sewing together the outsole and the welt. Prior examples of sole sewing machines, which may be referred to in connection herewith, are those illustrated in U. S. Patent 473,870 of April 26, 1892, and my prior application Serial No. 722,300, filed Sept. 25, 1912.

An object of the present invention is to generally improve the construction and operation of sewing machines, particularly of the type herein illustrated, and to render the same more quiet in action and more durable.

Another object hereof is to improve the mode of operation of the circularly moving shuttle. In heretofore known machines of the class above referred to, including the two prior examples recited, the shuttle is moved circularly the required amount, brought to a stop, and then reversed in movement so that practically its operation is an oscillation first one way and then the reverse through approximately three-quarters of a turn. This was open to the objections among others of lack of smooth running quality and noisiness in action and excessive wear. Specificially the present invention is intended to overcome these objections by so changing the shuttles operation as to eliminate the reverse movement, or in other words, give it a practically onedirection actuation. This improvement further enables a more advantageous timing as regards the slowing down and starting up of the shuttle preceding and succeeding the presentation of the thread loop in proper position; and also enables an actual increase in the speed of the machine.

Another object hereof is to provide a novel and superior actuating means or mechanism for causing the shuttles movement, and one which may be employed according to the timing of the operating cams or parts for effecting almost any desired manner of operation or actuation of the shuttle, including that before mentioned, wherein the shuttle moves circularly for substantially a revolution, then pausing and then proceeding again in the same direction.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the present invention will appear in the hereinafter following description or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

To the attainment of the objects and advantages above referred to, the present invention consists in the novel combinations, arrangements, constructions, devices and parts which are set forth, described and illustrated in the following description and accompanying drawings.

I will first describe one form of sewing machine shuttle actuating mechanism embodying my improvements, and will thereafter point out the novel features in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sole sewing machine in which the present improvements are embodied; or rather this view shows only the upper part of such machine, the post 1 being broken off as shown, instead of extending-to the floor as in said prior Patent No. 473,870. Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale shows a partial front view including particularly the shuttie and its surroundings, while Fig. 3 shows the same parts in a different stage of operation. Fig. 4 is a left-hand elevation of the machine shown in Fig. l, or rather of such parts thereof as particularly refer to the present improvements, the same being partly in section taken upon the plane ti of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged lefthand view of a detail seen in Fig. 4 and other figures. Fig. 7 is a partial right-hand elevation of the mechanisms particularly pertaining to the present improvements, taken on the plane 77 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the relative timing of the movements of the shuttle and needle during one cycle or stitch, this diagram being given to obviate the difficulties of comparing the relative actions of the several cams.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

lVithout making any exact comparison between the present machine and the machines of the prior patent and application referred to, I call attention that in very general respects, such as the relative arrangement of the driving shaft and the active instrumentalities of the machine, the three are similar. I will refer first to some of the general machine parts, and afterward specifically describe the parts, arrangements and combina tions more especially involved in the present improvements.

Extending upwardly from any convenient base is the post 1, supporting at its upper end the head casting 2, whose complicated structure is unnecessary to describe, it affording support for various machine parts. The main shaft 3 is at the upper part of the machine extending from left to right and mounted in bearings 4 at the upper ends of supporting brackets. At the left end of the shaft 3 is the pulley 5 for driving it, and carried on the shaft are three cam disks, 6 at the right, 7 in the middle and 8 at the left, containing various cams or grooves for the different purposes of the machine. A forwardly extending bracket 9 forms a fixed. part of the machine and supports the shuttle case, the work support, the needle fittings and other parts.

The shuttle case 10 may have the usual location as shown, and may comprise a somewhat enlarged casting as indicated, at the front of which is secured the shuttle retainer 11 in the usual form of a flat ring or partial ring, it serving to confine the shuttle 12 within the case 10. In closed or carried by the shuttle 12 is the bobbin 13 which may be retained by stationary retainer 14 located in front, as in my prior application.

Steam heating means may be provided to enable the use of wax thread as usual in sole sewing machines, and for this'purpose,

25 above the work support, the movable needle guide 26 which follows up the needle in its circular movements to support it against breakage, the thread looping hook 27 and the looper 28 beneath the work support, the thread lifter 29 above the work support adjacent to the shuttle, the auxiliary take-up 30 and a thread taking-up and measuring means, such for example as the parts 31 and 32, corresponding to similarly numbered parts in my said prior application.

Up to this point the reference numerals have been made for convenience to corre spond with the reference numerals employed in my said prior application, while subsequent reference numerals herein do not correspond. Q

A brief reference to the cam arrangements may avoid confusion and facilitate consideration of the specific improvements herein sought to be covered. The right-hand cam disk (3 may be provided with cam grooves namely on its right side for actuating the main take-up and thread measure 31, on its periphery for causing to and fro movements of the feed slide which carries the awl 24, and at its left face for actuating the thread lifting hook 29. Cam disk 7 at the middle is provided with cam grooves, namely at its right hand side for automatically operating the presser foot during each stitch, releasing and imposing pressure according to the periods of feeding and needle operations; at its periphery for moving the looper 28 forwardly and backwardly; and at its lefthand face for moving the awl 24 upwardly and downwardly. Cam disk 8 is provided with cam grooves, namely, at its right-hand face, see Fig. 7, an outer groove 33 for reciprocating the thread looping hook 27, and an inner groove 34 for operating the needle 25; on its periphery a single groove for moving the looper 28 to right and left; and at its left face outer and inner cams or grooves (see Fig. 4) 35 and 36 for effecting the peculiar and novel shuttle movements hereinafter to be described more in detail. Anadditional small cam or disk 37 is shown near the left end of the main shaft 3 for actuating the connections which operate the needle guide 26 in a manner analogous to the operation described in my said prior application.

The awl 24 may be carried by a clamp or segment pivoted at the upper end of post 39, mounted on horizontal feed slide 40, to which is connected a combined link and handle 41, pivotally connected to a forwardly extending crank arm 42, carried at the foot of a vertical shaft, at the upper end of which is a rearward arm bearing stud 44, engaging in a groove-0f cam disk 6. By these mechanisms, the feed slide and awl are moved to right and left to effect the pal feeding movement and the return movement of the awl.

The presser foot 23 may be at the forward end of arm 45, whose rear end may be connected by spring 46 with a spring extension, the latter being connected by a downward link l? to an arm 48, which may be depressed for elevating the presser foot, and to the rear of these parts and not shown, may be an arrangement of toothed racks and engaging dogs, whereby power may be applied for depressing the presser foot during the needle operations, and released to take off the pressure during feeding, all for example as described in my said prior application.

The up and down or swinging movements of the awl may be effected from its cam in any desided manner, for example as in said prior application. So also from their respective cams may be effected as in said prior application the operations of the thread looping hook 27, the thread looper 28, the thread lifting hook 29 (which is carried on the arm 49) and the take-up, thread measure and thread lock devices 31 and 32.

The bobbin retainer 14 is shown as of the type of my said prior application, it being mounted at the end of a carrying arm 50, pivoted to a fixed part of the machine and so fitted that on the depression of a handle or knob 51 the retainer is simultaneously unlocked and thrown open, it being capable of being pushed back by hand into locked retainin position, and it being provided with a vertically arranged recess not shown, at its inner side engaged by a forwardly extending projection or ridge 52 at the front of the bobbin, so that the bobbin is not only retained in the shuttle, but is retained always in one position, namely with the ridge standing vertical, and yet in such manner that the thread is permitted to pass between bobbin and retainer, as is necessary for the operation of the shuttle.

The needle operation is well shown in Fig. 7, the cam 34 effecting its movements through a cam lever 53, having a segment or arc-shaped rack 54 at its forward end. The needle 25 is carried by an oscillating needle segment 55, whose teeth engage the teeth of segment 54, so that the up and down movements of the cam lever 53 cause the needle to oscillate, first downwardly from above through the work to where the looper feeds an under thread loop to the needle hook, and then upwardly drawing the thread loop through the work to be engaged by the lifter and then by the shuttle. I would mention that the needle carrying parts in their swinging movement pass within a recess in the side of the rotary shuttle so that the shuttle must remain practically stationary during the needles movement, or at least the lower part of such movement.

The needle guide 26 is to be moved in harmony with the needle and this may be effected from the cam 37 through a cam lever 56, which when swung oscillates a short horizontal shaft or sleeve 57 having at its righthand end a forwardly extending arm 58, Fig. 4, provided with a short rack or segment 59. Engaged with the rack 59 is an adjustable pinion 60 carried on a short horizontal shaft, to which the needle guide 26 is connected. The timing of the groove of cam 37 determines the movements of the needle guide.

We now come to the operation of the shuttle 12. Manifestly its movements must be determined or restricted by several factors. In the first place the needle and its fittings when swung downwardly to the position of Fig. 3, occupy the lateral recess between the jaws of the shuttle, and therefore there can be no substantial or rapid movement of the shuttle during that period. The point 61 of the shuttle is the part that actually takes the thread loop from the needle when the latter is elevated, and from the cooperating thread lifter, the needle and lifter holding the thread in the form of a loop which the horn or point 61 of the shuttle enters; and the shuttle movements must be timed so this entry or engagement will be efiiciently and surely effected. The size of the recess in the side of the shuttle is restricted, since in order to give a proper bearing the shuttle periphery must present a circular surface very much greater than a semicircle. Thus we have opposed to the shuttle point 61 an opposing portion which may be termed a butt 62 removed by preferably less than a quadrant from the point 61. It is necessary that the butt 62 shall have been moved so far as not to stand in the way of the needle and its fittings when the needle is operated.

I propose that the shuttle hereof be operated substantially as follows: t each cycle or during the formation of each stitch, the shuttle is to make substantially a complete rotation leftwise, viewing Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the point (31 of the shuttle during this motion taking a loop of under thread, passing it around the shuttle, thus interlocking it with the upper thread carried in the bobbin, and delivering the loop again to be drawn down to the work by the take-up. Here the shuttle pauses or substantially stops while the taking up is effected, and instead of reversing or making a complete rotation clock-wise, remains there during the operation of the needle to produce the next loop; whereupon the shuttle makes a new r0- tation in the same leftwise direction as the previous one for the formation of the suc ceeding stitch. According hereto, therefore, the shuttle is a one-direction shuttle, eliminating reversals of movement and effecting a saving of time and an avoidance of noise and destruction.

I propose to so construct the shuttle mechanism that the shuttles stopping and starting are both effected with an easy gradual change of motion, so eliminating even the shocks and hangs of an abrupt actuation. Owing to the restrictions imposed by the presence of the needle fittings in the shuttle recess, this has presented difficulties which, however, I have substantially overcome by enlarging the shuttle recess or lengthening the distance between its jaws 61 and 62 to the maximum as indicated, and in conjunction therewith so timing the cams and connec tions that the shuttle is caused to slow down by a gradual decreasing speed as it approaches the needle operating stage, and to reassume its full speed of rotation thereafter by a gradual increase of speed. I further propose to effect these results through the employment of the novel two-cam motion or mechanism tobe described, of a character rendering it adaptable also for other modes of operation or difierent timings of the parts.

The action of the shuttle or its mode of ope "ation and its relative timing as compared with the needle, are so indicated in the diagram of Fig. 8 as to enable one skilled in the art to design the contours of the shuttle and needle cams to secure the benefits of the present improvements. The diagram is arranged in divisions, and each horizontal division or unit may represent an increment of motion of the main shaft of the machine; for example the distance between each two vertical lines measured along a horizontal may represent 10 of rotation of the main shaft. The curves or irregular lines on the diagram then illustrate the successive posi tions andv the relative movements of the needle and shuttle. Instead of measuring such movements by linear measuren'ients,it is convenient to do so by angular measurements, and from the upper left-hand corner or Zero downward, the diagram is divided into 360 of rotation. On this diagram the needle movement is indicated by the dotand-dash line marked 91', n, n. The needle movement is clearly shown from the diagram to be a down swinging movement of the extent of 90, commencing at Zero on the diagram, reaching its lowest position at 150 in the diagram, returning again and arriving at retracted or uppermost position at 235 on the diagram, and thereafter remaining stationary through the remainder of the cycle, while the shuttle is making the major part of its rotation.

The position of the parts shown in Fig. 9. is considered for convenience as the zero position on the diagram. The full line on the diagram illustrates the shuttles movement, which will be here generally described precede the next descent of the needle. The; 1-1; steep decline of the shuttle diagram in'di-' cates its rapid movement. Toward the end? of its rotation there will be seen to' com mence a gradual slowing up which continues to the point on the diagram at the lower right-hand corner, and this of course corresponds with the upper left-hand corner or zero, the motion there continuing into the succeeding cycle.

The position indicated in Fig. 3 corresponds approximately with point 150 on the Y diagram, the needle and fittings being about to ascend and the shuttle point 61 in position ready to enter the under thread loop when the needle has ascended.

As a matter of fact my preferred embodiment of the present invention goes a little further than the improvement indicated by the shuttle operation of the full line of the diagram. In the full line operation all reversals of movement of the shuttle have been eliminated and all shuttle movement is only in the one forward direction, with, however, av decided pause approximately between the points 1:20 and 215 on the diagram. I prefer to avoid the necessity of any substantial pause, and the further necessity which accompanies the same, of an abrupt starting or continuation of the shuttles rotation. I have already referred to the shuttle recess or opening having been enlarged to the maximum. extent, and by reason of this feature and the proper design of the cams, I am enabled to modify and improve the shuttle operation so that instead of following the motion indicated by the full line, the shuttle in part operates in accordance with the short-dotted line. The meaning of this modification is that the shuttle never actually stops but advances slowly during the needle movements, thereafter resuming full speed at the same point of time as before. ()r the motion may be further modified according to the long-dotted line, wherein the slow advance is gradually increased to the full speed. Thereby the objects before referred to are attained and the machine is rendered smoother running and more quiet and free from shock.

In the modified diagram composed partly of full line and partly of short-dotted line, or that consisting of the short-dotted and long-dotted lines, the shuttle substantially never ceases its forward motion, but after its rapid rotation for nearly a full revolution it slows down more and more gradually, so that it is substantially, but not actually, stationary during the needle operation and then, as before stated, gradually resumes full speed.

The novel shuttle actuating mechanism herein shown, operated by two properly coordinated cams, gives the precise shuttle motion of the illustrated diagram.

Bearing in mind that the needle has a predetermined movement according to the cam groove 34 at the right-hand face of cam disk 8, as seen in Fig. 7 I will now refer to the shuttle rotating mechanism which is best seen in Figs. at to 6, and which is controlled or actuated by the two cam grooves 35 and 36 at the left face of cam disk 8. I propose through the use of the two cams to positively move in a circular or other peripheral path a part or actuator, which in turn is connected to drive the shuttle in accordance with the construction of the cams. The shuttle driver 63 is conveniently mounted atthe forward end of a driver shaft 64, the driver having a pair of forwardly extending lugs 65, 66, which directly contact the shuttle for pushing it circularly and in a definite way by preventing excess movement from momentum. I will not describe in detail, as it will be understood, the manner in which the first or under thread slips around the shuttle, avoiding the driver lugs, the bobbin retainer, etc. At the rear of driver shaft 64 is seen a bevel ear 67 engaging a second bevel gear 68 carried on an intermediate shaft 69 which extends at right angles to the driver shaft, and preferably horizontally. The peripherally moving part or actuator previously referred to, may be the outward or forward end of the slide 76 hereinafter to be referred to, or the stud thereon, and the actuator is indicated by the reference 7 O. I prefer that the actuator 70 shall be positively moved in a circle or ap proximately a circle, and peripherally with respect to the axis of the intermediate shaft 69. The plane of movement of the actuator 70 is therefore shown as at right angles to the main shaft 3 of the machine, this being the preferred arrangement, owing to the shown use of an intermediate shaft between the actuator and driver shaft enabling the mechanism to be conveniently disposed.

As a convenient connection between the actuator 7 0 and the intermediate shaft 69, the latter may be provided with a crank or disk 71 shown as of a generally circular form, mounted on the left end of shaft 69. The disk 71 is shown radially slotted at 7 2, and there engaged by a square slide block 73, which is mounted on or directly connected to the actuator 70. The purpose of this is that any departure from an exact concentric circle in the movement of the actuator will be allowed for through the radial sliding of the block 7 3 in the slot 72, in consequence of which there can be no binding. Obviously the intermediate shaft 69 will rotate exactly in accordance with the periph eral motion of the actuator 70, and the latter is positively controlled by its two cams 35, 36, and in such a manner that any possibility of dead center is eliminated.

It may sometimes be desirable to relatively adjust the cam disk 71 with respect to its shaft 69, and for this purpose a device 7 4 in the nature of a bolt is provided in the disk adapted when tightened by the nut 75 to wedge or bind the disk upon the shaft, as more clearly seen in Fig. 6.

In order to cause the actuator 70 to move in a circle or other peripheral path, the following convenient connections to the cams '35, 36 may be employed: A reciprocating part or slide 76 is shown, whose outer end constitutes, or at whose outer end is provided, the actuator 70. This slide and the actuator must have a forward and backward motion, and also an upward and downward motion, both properly controlled so that the combined motions may be made to produce the resultant circular path of the actuator. To this end the slide 76 may be mounted on a support or arm 77, having a pair of bearings 78, 78, in which the slide 76 slides; and the rear end of arm 77 may be fixedly pivoted as shown at 79. In order to cause the sliding movements of slide 76 a cam lever 80 may be employed, provided with a stud 81 engaging the cam groove 35, and connected at its other end to a link 82 extending from the arm 80 to the slide 76; whereby the eccentric portions of the cam 35 acting through the cam arm and link, serve to move the slide forwardly and backwardly. For moving the slide upwardly and downwardly a stud 83 may be mounted directly on the swinging arm 77 and engaged directly in the cam groove 36, so that the eccentric cam portions cause the up and down swinging movements of the arm. We thus have a shuttle actuating mechanism, which, according to the design of the cams, may be made to cause any desired shuttle movement. From the diagram in Fig. 8 showing the shuttle movement, the proper contours for the earns 35 and 36 may be readily calculated, and they will be approximately as indicated in Fig. 4.

Obviously if so desired the cams 35, 36 could be so designed as to cause an oscillation of the shuttle or reverse movements thereof, as in heretofore known machines.

The operation of the mechanism hereof will be sufliciently understood from the above description. The two cams 35, 36 cause the actuator 70 to move substantially in a circle in a positively controlled manner;

the loose connection between the actuator 7 0 and the intermediate shaft 69 cause the latter to partake of the predetermined movements of the actuator, and through the bevel gears this action is transmitted directly to the shuttle driver, so that the shuttle moves in "accordance with the diagram of Fig. 8, while the needle holding parts are operated in harmony therewith so that the needle may produce a loop of the first or under thread at the proper time to be entered by the shuttle and caused to pass around the shuttle, thus interlocking it with the upper or second thread.

Ihave thus described a complete and operative sewing machine, of the form designed and adapted for sewing articles, such as shoe or boot soles, and have described all of the parts thereof with especial reference to the novel features of construction, arrangement, design and combination. It will be seen that the hereinbefore described machine attains advantages and objects hereinbefore recited and that the principles thereof are adaptable, not only for the spe cific purposes illustrated, but for other purposes in connection with sole sewing or other machines. It is further manifest that vari ous of the parts, features, and combinations, may be indefinitely modified in form or mode of operation, without departing from the principles of the invention, and in view thereof I do not wish to be limited to any specific features, arrangements, parts, or other details, excepting in so far as the same are referred to in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a Q-thread sewing machine, a circularly movable shuttle, and means for rotat- 'ing it at varying speeds comprising a circulating shuttle actuator, a rotary cam shaft w th a cam disk thereon, a face cam formed in the face of said disk, a lever pivoted toslide longitudinally movable on said lever and connected at its free end with said actuator, and a second face cam connected to reciprocate said slide, said cams being timed timed to produce fast and slow one-direction rotation of said actuator and shuttle; a shuttle driver between the shuttle and actuator,

said cams rotated by a horizontal cam shaft extending right and left, said shuttle located,

in front of said cam shaft in a plane parallel thereto, said oscillating arm and sald actuator movable in a plane at right angles to said cam shaft and parallel to the shuttle axis, and means for transmitting the motion of the actuator to the shuttle driver.

3. In a Q-thread sewing machine, a circularly movable shuttle, and means for rotating it at varying speeds comprising a circulating shuttle actuator, a first cam, a second cam, oscillating connections between said cams and actuator, said cams being timed to produce fast and slow one-direction rotation of said actuator and shuttle; a shuttle driver between the shuttle and actuator, said cams rotated by horizontal cam shaft extending right and left, said shuttle located in front of said cam shaft in a plane parallel thereto, said oscillating connections comprising two cam levers movable in a plane at right angles to said cam shaft and parallel to the shuttle axis and a member carried by, and adapted to be moved longitudinally along, one of said levers by means of the other lever and adapted to effect movement of the actuator, and means for transmitting the motion of the actuator to the shuttle driver.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

AUGUST R. SCHOENKY. Witnesses J AY l/VARREN NICHOLS, Trroinis J. CARTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

